This is a story of six sisters in a world protected by song. But one of these sisters seeks to bring about the world's ruin. And she won't rest until all the others are dead.

— Drakengard 3 Release Trailer

”

Drakengard 3 also known as Drag On Dragoon 3 in Japan, is the third title in the Drakengard series. Unlike the second game, it was created by the same developers of the first game and NIER. It was made to celebrate the ten year anniversary of the first game.

To celebrate the tenth anniversary, Dengeki Online conducted a character popularity poll for characters in the first two games.

Contents

According to a Famitsu interview, Takamasa Shiba presented the idea of creating a sequel to Drakengard 2 many years ago to Taro Yoko. Yoko felt that he wasn't up to the task at the time and refused. In Yoko's eyes, Nier is his personal Drag-On Dragoon 3. He was planning to continue expanding the Nier continuity, but his plans were cut short when Cavia disbanded and Yousuke Saito (Nier's producer) became busy managing Dragon Quest X.

Shiba had continued to pitch the idea of creating Drag-On Dragoon 3, and he too met difficulties due to Cavia's termination. When he presented the game to Cavia's parent division, AQ Interactive, it was shut down. Shiba believes that it was refused due to a trend at the time which sought to appeal to light gamers with a lighter atmosphere.

Yoko said that Drakengard fans frequently request a dark story according to surveys from Square-Enix and Shiba personally wants a story like Nier. Yoko "aims to do neither" while keeping true to the spirit of the Drakengard series. He had to fight to keep a female protagonist and Zero's eye-flower, as he believes it will offer a different flavor to the story. In a Dengeki Online interview, he says that it's a story about "searching" for something.

He also mentioned within the same interview a couple ideas he wanted to do for this entry but were rejected. The first one wanted to trick players into thinking that they missed a title by calling this one Drag-On Dragoon 4 and have the story search for the "missing piece" of the series. The other one was set in a contemporary setting following the adventures of a Japanese high school girl who would call for her dragon companion through her cellphone.

According to the blog of Emi Nagashima (Jun Eishima), the writer of the game's supplementary material, none of the game's endings lead into Drakengard, despite some superficial similarities. Instead, the events directly connecting Drakengard are told in the 2014 novel Drag-On Dragoon 3 Story Side.

The game is roughly similar to previous titles with ground and aerial combat. This title introduces "singing" or the "will to sing" (ウタウタイ), which is a new method of manipulating magic in the world. There are no town areas for the player to explore, but character interactions during battle remain intact, while characters can also interact in-between missions in a camp. There are four allies Zero can recruit, but she can only have two accompany her into battle. Zero is able to use four kinds of weapons: Swords, Spears, Combat Bracers and Chakrams. You can also fight together with your dragon. In this case, when you're doing ground battle, you can command your dragon to help you without riding the dragon. Zero's attack skill will vary as the song flows.

Long ago, in an age tarnished by endless conflict, five beautiful goddesses descended upon the land. The goddesses sang mystical songs that restored peace and harmony to our broken world. The people began to worship these holy songstresses, and came to refer to them as "Intoners." Thanks to the efforts of these Intoners, the chaos of war became a distant memory. And as a result, mankind enjoyed a an age of sweet reverie, basking in the newfoundlight and beau-

— Narrator, Drakengard 3

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The world is ruled by Intoners, sisters whose songs unleash vast powers. One day, the eldest sister Zero appears with her dragon Mikhail in tow, in order to kill her 5 sisters. Why did Zero appear before her sisters? Why does she travel with a dragonkin? What exactly is an Intoner? Darkness is upon the horizon...

Main protagonist and an expert swordswoman. She possesses the singing ability. An apathetic woman, she doesn't think much of men or the world around her. A flower grows from her right eye; her pink eyes are poignantly described to be enigmatic in the world of Drakengard.

Zero's dragon partner. Proud and intelligent, he has saved Zero countless times with his strength. Unlike other dragons in the series, he is an idealistic pacifist who believes that anyone can understand one another as long as they are willing to talk to each other.

Zero's younger sister with similar powers. A direct contrast to her sister, she is a serious and intellectual person with mysterious red eyes. She wonders how the world can benefit from her singing abilities. (Playable in DLC).

While the third Intoner sister Two does look cool as ice, she actually governs the Land of Sands. She’s a bright and cheerful young girl, who can get along with just about anyone. She is considered to be the life of the party of the sisters. She’s currently seeing a man. (Playable in DLC).

She is one of Zero's sisters, and happens to be listless, lethargic and has a dangerous temperament. She is an Intoner and rules over the Land of Forests. She is said to be popular with the soldiers. Three is overly obsessed with her own interests, and does not care for anything that does not interest her. She is indifferent to her sister Zero. (Playable in DLC).

She is the fifth of the Intoner sisters and governs the Land of Mountains. She speaks and acts with grace and has the refined personality of a good listener. Behind her prim and stiff personality hides a twisted inferiority complex, however. Much like the other Intoners, she possesses a high sex drive, but due to her repressed personality, she has never been able to act upon it, and is the only virgin among her sisters. (Playable in DLC).

She is the Intoner who governs the Land of Seas and the youngest of six sisters. She has great confidence, greed and relentless cravings. The moment she obtains what she desires, her interest in it is lost. She speaks slovenly and loves to allude to her sex life. Her appetite knows no bounds. (Playable in DLC).

A middle-aged man who fights with his fists and a well-trained body. Compared to the other disciples, he is a gentleman who has a normal personality and pays consideration to women. He is an extreme masochist who turns pain and agony into his personal reward. He tries to keep a low-profile, but is well-known to all the members nonetheless.

A pretty boy on the outside who is extremely cruel and powerful on the inside. Wields a Chinese spear. A smart young man with sharp senses, he is able to understand other peoples’ mentality and hurt others with his wisdom. He finds delight in others’ painful expressions and screams.

The game is a prequel to the first game. Despite being a prequel, Drakengard 3 mostly follows separate timelines unrelated to the events of Drakengard. It explores more of Midgard than the first two games, as pacts or the seals do not exist yet.

In the distant past, the dark ages swept the world with wars and tyranny, and the Intoner goddesses appeared before its suffering men. With the ability to manipulate magic through song, the goddesses subdued the world’s feudal lords and peace was brought to a rough earth. The goddesses were revered as Intoners, and were entrusted to govern the world.

The Intoner known as One has a strong will to bring peace and stability to the world. She is the person who will unite the Intoners and stand on top of the world. But one day, her older sister Zero appears before her with a dragon. Zero, too, is an Intoner, and the strongest of their kind. Zero then declares war to her sisters with the reason that the world doesn't need six Intoners but only one-- that is herself. What exactly are the Intoners? Dark clouds hang over the world once more.

Branch A
Following Zero's successful confrontation with One, she seeks to deliver the finishing blow until One summons Gabriel into the fray. With Mikhail in two, Zero defeats Gabriel with much ease until Mikhail collapses from the apparent over-exhaustion the battle has waged on him. Zero realizes her folly in desiring victory as she looks back at a depleted Mikhail, having died after the engagement. A distraught Zero walks towards One who has just finished saying her goodbyes to Gabriel. One tells Zero that she will go on ahead, ultimately meeting her end by Zero's hand.

Following the completion of her mission, Zero takes a moment and is subsequently impaled in the abdomen. Blood flushes out of Zero's body as it covers an individual who resembles One in appearance, albeit in a masculine form. He tells her that he is One's younger brother and that he was created for the sole intent of eliminating Zero ever should One be the first to die from their duel. As the young man pleads for Zero not to hate him for his actions, Zero only comments that she never hated anyone in the first place, not even her own sisters. She just wanted to be the last surviving Intoner, mentioning how hate never even played a part in her decisions because she had always intended to kill herself in the end. One is left aghast by her statement.

Within the reach of death, Zero slowly reaches out to Mikhail, thanking him for his recourse before ultimately perishing, apparently ending the current generation of Intoners. However, a disturbed One wonders about the future and tends to his dead sister, asking her what he shall do in a world without such divine beings governing its foundation. It is then that One comes to the revelation that he will start a church of sorts to protect the world in the place of its fallen Intoners, worshiping and revering his own sister in her place.

Following One's exit, doves surround the bodies of the fallen Zero and Mikhail, with a mysterious female having graced the location, citing how she already knew what was going to happen and that they should have taken another branch to proceed. As the doves exit the area, she abruptly takes her leave.

Branch B: The Price to Pay
After defeating Raphael, Mikhail reveals to Zero that he was afflicted with too much of its poison, ultimately dying from the toxins. Zero, distraught by the dead Mikhail, curses at him for leaving her again and once more at the flower for its unending curse. At that point, Zero remembers her flower's capabilities, utilizing her song powers to chant a seemingly powerful incantation. Apparently using the last of her strength, Zero thanks Mikhail before disappearing into the light.

Mikhail wakes up giddily and looks for Zero, sporting a familiar pink flower in his eye. A small child's voice responds to Mikhail in Zero's familiar tone, with Mikhail casually responding as if he were talking to Zero.

Branch C: VomitFollowing her victory against One, Mikhail dies from his wounds. One taunts Zero and dies. Zero is left with much regret and remorse over Mikhail's death while she continuously vomits on the floor. She tries to look for another dragon to end her life but she does not succeed in finding one.

Branch D: FlowerZero consumes One and allows the flower to bloom within her. The two are then transported to the "Spirit World", where giant statues of the six Intoners appear and engage Mikhail in a rhythm game. Mikhail triumphs, and after reminiscing with Zero, he destroys them. As they disintegrate, Accord states that the power of the flower has been sealed in the spirit world, nullifying its threat to humanity, although there is still a possibility of the seal breaking one day. Accord also states that although the recording function for Zero (likely the version of Accord assigned to her) was broken, she feels sure that Zero is still alive and that they will meet again.

Drakengard 3 features downloadable content in the form of extra costumes, extra headgear, extra weapons, extra BGMs and extra scenarios. The Intoner sisters are made playable in prologue scenarios. The Japanese Voiceover is said to not be included with the European digital copy although it may be available in the future as a PSN release.

A prequel to the original Drakengard, Drakengard 3 transports players to a medieval world where six sisters wield special magical abilities as the “Intoners.” These sisters have brought peace to the earth with their power to manipulate magic through song. Harmony is disrupted, however, when the eldest sister, Zero, attempts to murder her younger sisters with the help of her dragon companion, Mikhail. As the story progresses, players find themselves in a battle to unravel the mystery of Zero and learn her true intentions.

— NA Release Description.

”

In North America, Drakengard 3 was released digitally and physically on May 20, 2014.

The Drakengard 3 Collector's Edition Box was exclusively released through the Square Enix Online Store. [1] As it was a limited release, there were only 5,000 copies made available for purchase. It contains the Premium Packaging which features the Japanese Product Art, a translation of the Complete Prequel Novella, a soundtrack sampler disc, a double-sided collectible poster and the DLC codes for the Caim Costume, a prequel stage featuring One and a Giant Baby Hat.

Pre-ordering the Drakengard 3 Standard Edition or Drakengard 3 Collector's Edition Box before March 4, 2014 granted access to three bonus items, of which included the Japanese Voiceover as a DLC.

Pre-ordering the Drakengard 3 Standard Edition or PSN version before April 9th, 2014 granted access to the NIER COSTUME PACK DLC and an unspecified DLC that was revealed on April 9th.

The Standard Edition was available for pre-order exclusively through the Square Enix Online Store for $49.99 and the Collector's Edition Box was available for pre-order exclusively through the Square Enix Online Store for $79.99. The PSN version was available for pre-order exclusively through the Square Enix Online Store for $49.99.

Pre-ordering the game from Amazon yielded access to the three costume color variations DLC for Zero.

Hardback Novella – This beautifully illustrated 160 page prequel story to Drakengard 3 (available in English language only) contains a collection of short stories written from the perspectives of each character.

Add-on Pack – Downloadable tokens for the Ciam costume, an additional level where you play as One, Zero’s sister, and a Giant Baby Hat (yes, an enormous baby’s head for your dragon, Mikhail).

Music Sampler CD – A CD containing a selection of mesmerising tracks from the game’s original soundtrack, composed by Keiichi Okabe (who also created the score for Nier).

Double Sided Poster – A collectable double sided poster only available in the Collector’s Edition of Drakengard 3.

The Game – While there won’t be a physical disc version of the Drakengard 3 for Europe and PAL territories, a download token will be included inside the box which you can redeem on the PlayStation Store.

Japanese Voice DLC – Experience the game in its original audio with a download token for the original Japanese voice acting! This DLC is part of the Collector’s Edition, but will also be available for non-CE owners when you pre-order the standard digital game through the PlayStation Store (pre-orders start mid-April).

Compared to the North American release, there were only be 2,000 copies made available for €69.99.

In Europe and PAL territories, Drakengard 3 was release only digitally on May 21, 2014.[3]

Pre-ordering the Drakengard 3 Standard Edition or Drakengard 3 Collector's Edition Box before March 4, 2014 granted access to three bonus items, of which included the Japanese Voiceover as a DLC.

Pre-ordering the Drakengard 3 Standard Edition or PSN version before April 9th, 2014 granted access to the NIER COSTUME PACK DLC and an unspecified DLC that was revealed on April 9th.

The Standard Edition was available for pre-order exclusively through the Square Enix Online Store for $49.99 and the Collector's Edition Box was available for pre-order exclusively through the Square Enix Online Store for $79.99. The PSN version was available for pre-order exclusively through the Square Enix Online Store for $49.99.